In transportation industry fuel management will be always a major concern, Each year the industry faces new challenges in winter period, and it becomes even more vital for transport organizations to take all steps possible to maximize fuel efficiency, this year is no different. Among those challenges, many states have mandated bio-diesel blends while many have mandated idling restrictions. To add to that, fleet fuel prices are rising, and weather forecasters are predicting a colder and snowier winter than any in recent memory. And with the early showing of winter weather in many states, they may be right.

Here are 5 useful tips before using bio diesel in your fleet.

Know more about 10 tips to prepare your fleet for winter in the US and Canada.

Cold weather reduces fuel economy by 8-12% over warm weather, due to a combination of factors ranging from increased wind resistance to lower tire pressure to the fuel itself.

The cold weather affects your fleet vehicles in many ways. If you ignore the change in season, your fleet organization could face inconvenient and expensive challenges.

Read more about 5 effective ways that would help you save fuel.

4 Tips for Winter Fuel Management:

1. Use of Gas Line Antifreeze

2. Use Antifreeze Oil/ Bio fuels

3. Don’t Forget Fluids

4. Vehicle Tracking System with Fuel Tracking

1. Use of Gas line antifreeze: In winter condition, even the small amount of water formation below fuel tank can cause big troubles. That is why fuel levels should never drop below ½ of a tank of gas. When water vapor builds up in the bottom of the gas tank, it can be drawn into the fuel line and freeze during the winter months. The engine cannot start with a frozen fuel line. Consider adding gas line antifreeze to reduce chances of frozen fuel-lines.

2. Use Antifreeze Oil/ Bio fuels: Antifreeze is clever stuff that stops the water in your engine's cooling system from freezing and making it a vital vehicle fluid to keep your engine running smoothly. #1 Diesel, or Kerosene, has excellent cold flow properties and is quite often blended with #2 Diesel in the winter months to meet cold flow specifications, thus improving cold weather engine operability. Cloud and pour points, and CFPPs of some #1 Diesel fuels can be well below -30º F. So adding #1 Diesel to B99 biodiesel can also have the same effect, lowering the cloud and pour points simply by blending fuels. An accepted method of fuel testing is for cloud point or CP. The newer method is to test for cold filter plugging point or CFPP. The CFPP is the lowest temperature at which fuel will still flow through a specific filter. Ask your supplier if they are performing either of these tests on the fuel you are purchasing and what the cold weather performance of their fuel is.

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3. Don’t Forget Fluids: Fuel isn’t the only important fluid to consider when constructing a winter maintenance plan for your fleet. Oil, coolant, power steering, brake, windshield and battery fluids are all vital to properly maintaining your fleet vehicles during winter.

4. Vehicle Tracking System with Fuel Tracking: The potential problems are clear. To make sure that drivers are on time and secure for the duration on winter weather GPS vehicle tracking facilitates your business mainly during winter weather. GPS tracking technology does not help in tracking the weather but it definitely helps in planning routes which will help the drivers to reach their destinations faster and safer. By planning routes and stops based on achieving the minimum miles driven — can drastically reduce fuel use, vehicle wear and tear and exposure risk, which has an impact on driver safety, and accidents during winter weather.

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These few tips can make the difference between a go or no go situation, making that delivery commitment, or completing a run versus breaking down. There are many great tips for proper fuel management systems in cold weather, but the best tip is to increase driver awareness and subsequently hold them accountable for action or inaction.

A proper fleet management software and fuel management system can help your drivers winterize their fleet vehicles, so you don’t have to worry about the effectiveness of your winter maintenance plan. Contact us to know more about Traxroot's fuel monitoring capabilities, and experience 14 days of trial period.